Canadian Air Transport Security Authority

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Agency overview
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
Formed	January 1, 2003
Jurisdiction	Federal government of Canada
Headquarters	Ottawa, Ontario
Employees	183 (2006)^[1]
Minister Responsible	Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport
Agency Executive	D. Ian Glen, President and CEO
Parent agency	Canadian Crown
Website
http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) (French: Administration canadienne de la sûreté du transport aérien, or ACSTA) is the Canadian Crown corporation responsible for airport security within Canada. CATSA reports to its sole shareholder, the Canadian monarch, represented by the Governor General, through the Minister of Transport, who is him or herself responsible to the House of Commons.

CATSA was officially formed April 1, 2002,^[1] via Transport Canada, following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. CATSA holds responsibility for air traffic security by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Act, passed by parliament and granted Royal Assent in 2002. The Government of Canada took control of airport screeners who, until January 1, 2003, were the responsibility of the airlines.

As CATSA is a Crown corporation, it must therefore adhere to certain federal laws like the Official Languages Act,^[1] which ensures that both English and French languages are made available to the passengers.

CATSA contracts screening services to private security companies. One of the largest is Aeroguard Group, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. CATSA is managed by D. Ian Glen, who is the chair of the Board of Directors and acts as the interim CEO. The Authority's mandate is the delivery of consistent, effective and highly professional service that is set at or above the standards established by federal regulations. The official mission statement is to protect the public by securing critical elements of the air transportation system as assigned by the government.